Chapter 14

Kelsey “Any word?” I asked the group of guards returning from their search for Kelly.

“No your highness.” They nodded grimly, looking more and more worn out as the days continued to pass.

“Okay.” I nodded, choking back the sobs that threatened to come. “Kylie and I made dinner for you guys, it’s waiting in the kitchen for you.”

It’s been over a month since Kelly went missing. I got bits and pieces of the story from everyone. My conclusion is that she went to seek alternative medicine for her wolf. How true that was, I don’t know. Everyone was pretty tight-lipped about it. It wasn’t like her to completely disappear. Not without telling someone at the very least. The fact that there were search parties coming and going told me something was up.

“You need to rest.” Mason scolded me, helping me into a chair.

My back was aching from our second pup. I was halfway through my pregnancy, praying my symptoms would get better with time, but highly doubting they would. Our little boy was giving me a run for my money. Just a few more months and it would all be worth it.

“Anything yet?” Jonas asked, looking like he had seen better days.

He has been tagging along with the search parties to help look for Kelly. Her trainer, Thorin, was too, but went out on his own. He didn’t seem to like working with others. I hadn’t seen much of either of them. I hadn’t seen much of her doctor either, though I don’t know what he was up to.

“No nothing.” I shook my head.

“We’ll find her, I’m sure,” Mason encouraged. “Kelly is a smart woman. I’m sure she is doing just fine.”

“This isn’t her.” I growled. “Someone isn’t telling me something! Kelly doesn’t just run off into oblivion without cause!”

“No one is disagreeing with you, this is strange. But Mason is right, Kelly is a smart woman. I’m sure she’ll be back soon.” Jonas said.

– – – – – – – – –

King Derek “Sir, there was a group of junkies found on the far western border of our territory,” Jeff said matter of factly.

“So?” I shrugged. We had protocol for this. Detox, rehab, aftercare, the works.

“One of them claims to be Princess Kelly.” He frowned.

“King Carson’s daughter?” I asked, taken back.

“Yes sir.”

“Where is she?” I asked, rounding my desk, following Jeffs’ lead.

“The warriors brought her here, figured you might be able to recognize her. Make sure it’s actually her first.”

“Might be?” I frowned.

Jeff shot me a look that told me all I needed to know. He led me to a spare guest room where there was a doctor tending to a young woman sitting on the floor, using the bed as a backrest. She was hard to recognize, her hair looked dulled and her normally soft features were bony looking, but it was hard to deny it was her when I saw her blue eyes.

So much pain, so much sorrow was behind them. This was not the Kelly I knew. The Kelly I knew was happy, she was bold, confident. She was full of joy. Of course, it had been a number of years since I had last seen her. She was a preshifted teen last I remember. My father cut me off from society as a teen and I regrettably hadn’t gone out of my way for pleasantries while rebuilding my kingdom.

“Give us a minute.” I said, my eyes fixed on Kelly.

The door clicked shut behind them, leaving us alone. I knelt down, taking the damp rag she had to the side and gently cleaning the dried b***d from her face. It looked like it was from an old wound, which made me question how long it was since she had a proper shower.

She refused to meet my eyes, the only noise she made was an occasional sniffle. I started a bath for her and helped her undress and get in. We could talk after she was cleaned up and properly fed. I had my new cook, Harper, bring a wide variety of options for Kelly to choose from which she dug into immediately. She didn’t eat much. I didn’t expect her to in her current state. She looked a lot better though, she looked more herself.

I took a seat at the small desk across from the bed where she was sitting, surrounded by half a dozen trays of food.

“Wanna tell me what happened?” I asked as she set down her fork.

“I messed up.” She whispered. “Really badly.”

“Lets hear it.” I said, kicking my feet up on the bed.

I listened carefully to her as she told me what was going on. She was withholding some information but it didn’t bother me too much. We hardly knew each other and it was clear that she was scared. What she did tell me was that she was given some medications that were very addictive and when it came time to stop the pills, she lost it. She ran away and got mixed up with the wrong crowd. She didn’t go home or call because she felt too ashamed to face her family. I could believe that story.

“So what do you plan on doing now?” I asked when she was through.

“What do you mean?” She frowned.

“I mean, what do you plan on doing with your life next?” I asked again.

“As if I had a choice. My father is probably already on his way.” She scoffed.

“Why would he be on his way?” I asked.

“You didn’t call him?” She asked, obviously stunned.

“Why would I? You are an adult. You can make your own choices. Though, I do think you should reach out to him. If it’s true what you are saying, if you’ve been gone for over a month now, he is probably besides himself. If he found you here…Goddess, I would hate to see what would happen. He would probably blame me given my father’s history.” I chuckled. “Frankly, I’m not ready for a war. So, the sooner you are off my land, the better. No offense.”

“None taken.” She laughed for the first time. “My father can be a bit much. I just don’t know what to do. If I go back now he’ll know I royally messed up and I can k**s my title as queen goodbye.”

“I’ll make a deal with you. I’ll let you stay here for a few days, get yourself together, get your story straight. I wont breathe a word of this to anyone. On the condition that when you are made queen, we sign a peace treaty with one another.”

“You would really do that for me?” She asked.

“I will do whatever it takes to keep my kingdome safe.”

– – – – – – – – – –

Kelly King Derek was kind enough to let me stay at his palace for a full week. It was under renovation, so I didn’t see him much, but when I did he was always good company. That week gave me enough time to put on some of the weight I had lost and make myself look healthier than I had when I arrived. I had a cover story. It was weak, but it would have to do. Derek had his Beta Jeff drive me back home. I may have sold my car to pay for more drugs when I burned through my three-month supply in just under a month. I guess that’s what I get for buying from a human. He did give me a three-month supply. Unfortunately, it was by human standards, not wolf standards. Our metabolisms burn through substances at a much faster rate. I couldn’t risk going through a wolf though. I was too easily recognizable.

“You can stop here.” I said when we were about a mile from the kingdom’s pack territory.

“You got it.” He said, relief crossing his features.

I doubt he volunteered to drive me, the missing princess, for over thirty-six hours, to the king, who probably had a kill on sight order if I was found with someone strange. Especially a male someone. Jeff quickly pulled over and grabbed my bag from the trunk before taking off like the devil was chasing him. I guess I am on my own now.